Bmw 850i 1991

Model 850i made in 1991 by Bmw got 10 consumer complains as well as 2 recalls. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to engine and engine cooling and exterior lighting. There were some recalls concerningair bags and engine and engine cooling. The car has one 5.0l engine.

Model 1991

Engine [L]CylindersTransmissionDriveEstimate MPG (city/highway/combined)Unadjusted MPG (city/highway/combined)FuelFuel costClassRelease date
( 5.0L) 12Lockup/automatic, 4 gearsRWD12/18/1414/23/17Regular$ 13393900506
( 5.0L) 12Manual, 6 gearsRWD12/19/1413/24/16Regular$ 13393900506

Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
AIR BAGS - FRONTAL
96V110000BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEfrom 07/01/1990 to 03/01/1992V (Vehicle)7500009/30/1996ODIBAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE07/01/199607/08/1996
Defect SummaryThe air bag contact ring locking tab located in the steering wheel assembly can break without warning.
Consequence SummaryIf this happens, the contact ring wiring could eventually break. the air bag readiness indicator lamp (srs or airbag) in the instrument cluster will illuminate, and the air bag would not deploy in the event of a frontal impact vehicle collision.
Corrective SummaryDealers will replace the locking tab with one of a different design.
NotesSystem: interior; passive restraint; air bag; driver. vehicle description: passenger vehicles. owner notification: owner notification is expected to begin august 5, 1996. note: owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117. also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM
98V178000BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEfrom 04/01/1990 to 11/30/1994V (Vehicle)34000003/31/1999MFRBAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE08/04/199808/14/1998
Defect SummaryVehicle description: passenger vehicles. a malfunction or failure of a coolant system component, such as a thermostat, water pump, or fan belt, can result in significantly increased coolant temperature and system pressure. if the indications of a critical overheating condition is not noticed by the driver, it is possible that damage to, or failure of, a coolant system component could occur.
Consequence SummaryIf a crack were to form or a seam were to separate in the heater core end piece, hot coolant could suddenly be expelled, increasing the risk of personal injury to a vehicle occupant.
Corrective SummaryDealers will install a new design radiator cap to control pressure and provide greater coolant overflow in the event of overheating.
NotesOwner notification began march 31, 1999. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
02/01/2000201/01/1994
 This car loses coolant, overheats, and blows a head gasket, and now possibly needs new cylinder heads. bmw mechanic states that the temperatute gauge is not supposed to tell you the engine is overheating if the coolant has already completely leaked out of the system. that the gauge does not register the empty air in a now empty coolant system. in my opinion the temp guage should tell me the possibility of my car overheating so that i can shut down the engine and have it repaired. this has occurred twice($5,000 first time) and now an estimated $9,000-15,000 depending on extent of damage. please send any information you may have on this problem with this vehicle. a local reputable import repair shop informed me that this happens with this car and that they consider it a common defect/occurrence. to combat this they even have their own solution my drilling extra holes in the engine and bolting it down without having to even use a headgasket. if this is accepted common knowledge then there must be further complaints/histories of this occurrence with the bmw 850i.. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM
02/01/2000201/01/1994
 This car loses coolant, overheats, and blows a head gasket, and now possibly needs new cylinder heads. bmw mechanic states that the temperatute gauge is not supposed to tell you the engine is overheating if the coolant has already completely leaked out of the system. that the gauge does not register the empty air in a now empty coolant system. in my opinion the temp guage should tell me the possibility of my car overheating so that i can shut down the engine and have it repaired. this has occurred twice($5,000 first time) and now an estimated $9,000-15,000 depending on extent of damage. please send any information you may have on this problem with this vehicle. a local reputable import repair shop informed me that this happens with this car and that they consider it a common defect/occurrence. to combat this they even have their own solution my drilling extra holes in the engine and bolting it down without having to even use a headgasket. if this is accepted common knowledge then there must be further complaints/histories of this occurrence with the bmw 850i.. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
02/01/2000201/01/1994
 This car loses coolant, overheats, and blows a head gasket, and now possibly needs new cylinder heads. bmw mechanic states that the temperatute gauge is not supposed to tell you the engine is overheating if the coolant has already completely leaked out of the system. that the gauge does not register the empty air in a now empty coolant system. in my opinion the temp guage should tell me the possibility of my car overheating so that i can shut down the engine and have it repaired. this has occurred twice($5,000 first time) and now an estimated $9,000-15,000 depending on extent of damage. please send any information you may have on this problem with this vehicle. a local reputable import repair shop informed me that this happens with this car and that they consider it a common defect/occurrence. to combat this they even have their own solution my drilling extra holes in the engine and bolting it down without having to even use a headgasket. if this is accepted common knowledge then there must be further complaints/histories of this occurrence with the bmw 850i.. *ak
EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS
06/01/2004304/12/2004
 The driver noticed that the headlight adjuster was broken. this caused poor visibility while driving at night. the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the headlights adjuster needed to be replaced. *nm the headlights were not high enough to shine on the road to allow the consumer to view the road. the lights would only go about 15-20 feet in front of the vehicle. *sc *jb
02/01/1992810/01/2091
 Both headlight adjustment mechaisms have repeatedly failed. this is an ongoing complaint with bmw 8 series owners. when the adjustment mechanism fails the headlight buckets point downwards so that the amount of road visible to the driver is 25 feet or less. bmw has a fix for this which consists of peening a plastic adjustment wheel to the adjustment shaft. this usually fails within several thousand miles. bmw then says to buy a new headlight bucket... $4-500 to fix a $2.00 part. sometime, or maybe it ha already happend this is going to cause a major accident or a pedestrian fatality due to the fact that the lights are not projecting far enough for a driver to see a reasonable distance down the highway. i have contacted bmw and have yet to recive the courtesy of a return call. please respond to this complaint with what action that you might be taking regarding this matter.*ak
05/01/2001305/01/2001
 After failure, bmw tells you to buy new headlight buckets for $650 with new adjusters in them, which will fail again after two to four years, depending on the mileage. after failure the lights shine extremly low without covering the street in front of you, resulting in a real safety hazard.
10/05/2000209/01/2000
 Headlight housing broken. points downward.*ak
EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS - SWITCH
1
 Consumer states the convertible headlights knob are not functioning correctly mechanic and manufacture have been notified however to resolve problem manufacture has offered to replace the whole lights for $400.00 per lights. nlm
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK
101/01/1998
 Brakes continue to fail almost resulting in an accident.
SUSPENSION - REAR
08/01/1995211/01/1990
 Shock support came completely out of the body of the vehicle on two occasions.